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Northern Ohio Cold Cases
Haunting cold cases from the Heart of It All Northern Ohio is best known for its stunning lake views and bustling cities, but even a region as gorgeous and prosperous as this has seen its measure of tragedy. Judy Martins was a beautiful Kent State University coed who disappeared after a dorm party. Frank Noch was a mathematical genius and valuable employee at the General Motors plant in Cleveland. Someone broke into his home and killed him. Hinckley Police Chief Mel Wiley had a secret. Maybe that is why he disappeared. DNA helped Sandusky Police identify a Jane Doe forty-three years to the day she washed up on the shores of Lake Erie. Now, detectives are hoping to find out who put Patricia Greenwood in the water and why. Award-winning author Jane Ann Turzillo unfolds these unsolved cases and eight more from the north of the Buckey State.
- GenresNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 1, 2024
Below are are my thoughts on each case as I read its corresponding chapter (each one is short as I kept within the Goodreads update character limit)
Mel Wiley- It's wild to me that they never checked ANYWHERE outside of Ohio for this man?? He had a bus/Amtrak schedule to California but all investigators just dismissed it??
Steve's Motel- Super creeping reading about these killings that literally happened up the street from where you live, on a property you pass every day on your way to work...
Frank Noch- a rather short retelling of this case. It feels like the author could've put more info into it. Such as with the Mel Wiley case, there were tons of pages of who he was as an individual and then also his case, with this there were few of either.
Judy Martin- It's wild to me that it took so long for the police to classify her case as a missing persons case...
The Markley's- Disappointing they couldn't get any photographs for this chapter. But the information was very well collected. I do wish the last tidbit shared about "other crimes committed on this property" shed a bit more light on the case, as it stands now it seems to be completely unrelated
Norm Liver- It was interesting to read the author's own experience with a cold case that was close to her family. I wish that there had been more information available with this one as well (with Liver being so close with her family you would've thought there would be more info about him).
Jane Doe- I found it interesting that an earlier mentioned case (Judy Martin) was one of the people Jane Doe was thought to be, that was a nice tie in for the book. It was also quiet spooky that she was identified 43 years to the day of her body being found, and I liked what the author did to make her tale longer despite so little being known about her
Nancy Eagleson- You mean to tell me not one single adult watched this little girl get abducted in the middle of the street in nearly broad daylight?? That just doesn't add up to me.
Marion Brubaker- I think this story alone makes the whole book worth it. As someone currently working at an ASCPL branch it was shocking to see us in such a book, but boy was this case well written out for this book. (I think the teen boy did it personally). Speaking on the teen boy, other characters in this book were given alias for the sake of story-telling, yet this boy was never given an alias to go by? That seemed like an odd chocie.
Cassidy Family- I was again disappointed by the lack of photos and info this case had. I know they thought the son, Michael, to be the killer, but they didn't question anyone else? How did no one else hear 4 shotgun shots? Like that didn't wake up the wife/ daughter/ whoever was killed last and scared them into trying to run for help?
Robert Hamrick- It's ironic to me that the case that gets the most pages in this book is the only one that I am certain is not in fact a cold case. It is also humorous to me that the cops did such a thorough investigation when one of their onw was involved, but the 9 other cases in this book are textbook examples of the police not caring to do their jobs properly. I was also sort of annoyed by all the extra information given for this case, like why was the "Danny Smith" story told? I went into that one believing it to be the main topic of Hamrick's case yet it was completely unrelated (other than being a high speed chase involving the deceased).
Overall, a very quick and informative read. Many of these stories I felt like could have used more information/ expansion (except Hamrick). And even just a photo of the family/ person the case revolved around (happy and alive) would've sufficed instead of giving some cases 4+ photos and other cases none at all.
Mel Wiley- It's wild to me that they never checked ANYWHERE outside of Ohio for this man?? He had a bus/Amtrak schedule to California but all investigators just dismissed it??
Steve's Motel- Super creeping reading about these killings that literally happened up the street from where you live, on a property you pass every day on your way to work...
Frank Noch- a rather short retelling of this case. It feels like the author could've put more info into it. Such as with the Mel Wiley case, there were tons of pages of who he was as an individual and then also his case, with this there were few of either.
Judy Martin- It's wild to me that it took so long for the police to classify her case as a missing persons case...
The Markley's- Disappointing they couldn't get any photographs for this chapter. But the information was very well collected. I do wish the last tidbit shared about "other crimes committed on this property" shed a bit more light on the case, as it stands now it seems to be completely unrelated
Norm Liver- It was interesting to read the author's own experience with a cold case that was close to her family. I wish that there had been more information available with this one as well (with Liver being so close with her family you would've thought there would be more info about him).
Jane Doe- I found it interesting that an earlier mentioned case (Judy Martin) was one of the people Jane Doe was thought to be, that was a nice tie in for the book. It was also quiet spooky that she was identified 43 years to the day of her body being found, and I liked what the author did to make her tale longer despite so little being known about her
Nancy Eagleson- You mean to tell me not one single adult watched this little girl get abducted in the middle of the street in nearly broad daylight?? That just doesn't add up to me.
Marion Brubaker- I think this story alone makes the whole book worth it. As someone currently working at an ASCPL branch it was shocking to see us in such a book, but boy was this case well written out for this book. (I think the teen boy did it personally). Speaking on the teen boy, other characters in this book were given alias for the sake of story-telling, yet this boy was never given an alias to go by? That seemed like an odd chocie.
Cassidy Family- I was again disappointed by the lack of photos and info this case had. I know they thought the son, Michael, to be the killer, but they didn't question anyone else? How did no one else hear 4 shotgun shots? Like that didn't wake up the wife/ daughter/ whoever was killed last and scared them into trying to run for help?
Robert Hamrick- It's ironic to me that the case that gets the most pages in this book is the only one that I am certain is not in fact a cold case. It is also humorous to me that the cops did such a thorough investigation when one of their onw was involved, but the 9 other cases in this book are textbook examples of the police not caring to do their jobs properly. I was also sort of annoyed by all the extra information given for this case, like why was the "Danny Smith" story told? I went into that one believing it to be the main topic of Hamrick's case yet it was completely unrelated (other than being a high speed chase involving the deceased).
Overall, a very quick and informative read. Many of these stories I felt like could have used more information/ expansion (except Hamrick). And even just a photo of the family/ person the case revolved around (happy and alive) would've sufficed instead of giving some cases 4+ photos and other cases none at all.
January 11, 2026
Profoundly deep and well researched! Hauntingly chilling. Any author who takes their time to shed light on cold cases is someone who is valuable and key to never forgetting.
May 29, 2025
(3.5 would be my actual rating. But, for the reasons given below, I can't bring myself to round it up to 4.)
Impressive research by the author into some disturbing (and relatively old) cold cases that took place not far from where I grew up. The most heart-rending, of course, are those involving children. I could especially relate to the young female victims who were born within about a decade of me because I remember how simultaneously vulnerable and trusting most families were within their own communities.
Still, I have two main issues with the book: (1) poorly organized or awkwardly presented narratives in several of the cases, and (2) a lack of meaningful photos. I can't hold the author completely responsible for the second problem since she most likely could not access more photos from either law enforcement or the victims' families, and/or she was restricted by her publisher in how many they would print. Still, she's the author, so even if her editors failed her, she's ultimately responsible for the quality of her story-telling. That being said, as a fellow writer, I'm sympathetic to those working on tight deadlines or with weak editorial support.
Impressive research by the author into some disturbing (and relatively old) cold cases that took place not far from where I grew up. The most heart-rending, of course, are those involving children. I could especially relate to the young female victims who were born within about a decade of me because I remember how simultaneously vulnerable and trusting most families were within their own communities.
Still, I have two main issues with the book: (1) poorly organized or awkwardly presented narratives in several of the cases, and (2) a lack of meaningful photos. I can't hold the author completely responsible for the second problem since she most likely could not access more photos from either law enforcement or the victims' families, and/or she was restricted by her publisher in how many they would print. Still, she's the author, so even if her editors failed her, she's ultimately responsible for the quality of her story-telling. That being said, as a fellow writer, I'm sympathetic to those working on tight deadlines or with weak editorial support.
March 5, 2024
It would probably drive me crazy, not knowing. I have the deepest sympathies for the families.
May 4, 2025
Interesting read. There are some cold cases that I didn't think were that close to me. Which makes me want to dig more into the history of the case.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews